St. Landry democrat., 1887-11-26
The Hunt Canvass.
The Action Taken by General Nich-
oils Therein.
Extracts from the Speech of Judge E.
D. White, at shreVepcrt, L9s
Oct. Is, 1897.

In the course OF his remarks Judre Wuite
said
one of the methods of the opponents Of
Governor Nichols Is to assail his Democ-
racy. His record as a Democrat ie to be
judged by his whole life, by his services to
the Democrats of this State. Let US looK at
his career for the entire period from the
time when he surrendered at the termina-
ton of the war to the present date. He was
a straignout Democrat in 1872 when SO many
worthy and honorable men from high mo-
ives Of policy became liberal Republicans.
He was a Democrat i'll 1874, he was a Demo-
crat In 1876 when he was called to the lead
ersnip Of the party in the struggle for Demo
cratic supremacy.
Holding these facts up howtimsy becomes
the charge that General Nichols is not a
Democrat. and that he Ia anything else but
a robust and straight-out leader and dis
cIpie of the Democratic party. But let us
take up some Of
THESE PRETENDED REASONS
why it il charged that General Nichols ia
NOT a Democrat. The main attack Is predl-
Gated upon his having made several
speeches i'll the city of New Orleans, in
1854. in favor OF the election OF the Hon.
Carleton Hunt IN the First congressional
tiSltItIA u IUtL "Ilc "a HAS
leads NE AT once Co a discussion of what 1s
commonly called by the supporters of a
third term the Huat bolt. What are the
facts!
The year 1884. when Mr.. Hunt was pre-
sented TO the Y0teyS OF the EiESf COngrGssSen<
nj district as a candidate FOR denomination
to congress, was the yelTnut only of q CON
4res3lOnel but OF tle-~hart3nai election. In
order . fulfS[2TIreciate General Nlcholls'
rtuGrss and understand the motives which
800 I,E,,. - ~ r n rnhn
a retrospective view OF the condition of
public affairs st that JuncIure and OF the
circumstances which surrounded the strug-
gle for the election OF Grover Cleveland as
president of the United states.
The congressional election was in Novem-
Der. 1854. In the previous spring Governor
McEuery had been elected By q majority of,
il Irecollect well, between 1900 and 5000.
MI. Hunt had served one term i'll congress
representing the First district. 1t was COM
monty and currently reported throughout
the district, indeed throughout the entire
city OF New Orleans, that he would not be
renominatcd. not because he had not served
we'll and faithfully, bus because OF the fact
that
ALARGE SUN OF MONEY,
between $40, 900 and Sl2, 600. had been paid to
q political leader or leadere, and in consid-
GRAFTON OF which payment a pledge had been
made to give the nomination. In other
words, that the First district had been cold
1St ktiOutb L ~ ILiiS hbsSt hN-AS 4AS
circulation, II hal become the common
gossip OF the district. and Joined with other
it produced a profound disafectfon.
great vas this dlsattsctlon that grave
fears were entertained as to Its effect not
only Upon the congressional but also upon
the natlOnal struggle. The vital results
TO flow from the national victory were man
irest to every Democrat. The dread OF defeat
was equally wildly presented.
Marx, [ do not say that | know the rumor
to have been true. for whether IL was true
or not 1 cannot affirm, but l do say the
rumor was current and that
IT WAS PUBLICLY CHARGED
charged not only in print, bnt in speeches,
10 affirm that the Glsattectlon existed. !
The extent OF this Gisatfectlon l aDnot
more clearly demonstrate than by saying
that Judge Rogers, who took an active part
Il the Hunt movement, Informs me- that he
and was SO informed from the ma
tional committee that MT J~astremski, the
OF the Democratic state central
in this state, Ii gentleman who is
now to many of this audience,
wrote to the national committee or TO 81
member thereof as to the election OF pres1-
"ASEing for mo arg ana Gii u OPEN ire
campaign aud to aero y thr cTPcaS@S II Hoia-
lty u ratification NEE tHq at SpHlc 3itfs re dug
n Near Orleans. also saying that biS FOH,Htt-
ee could not rdtse money 10 pd.& ff,tt for 0t
the last c~antpaiyye" me one at which
McEHery hat been elfcte4)- lie
aid there mQs much diSaDect0h anil he
The Stcte Ia DANGER"
What more vivid picture of the extent Of
he disatfection could l give than this Ian
,uage portrays, language coming from the
hartman OF the Democratic central COM
n1ttee. No money TO open headquarters!
money to hold d ratification OF Cleve-
nomination ana the state IN danger.
WITH THE MENACE OF THIS DANGER
'efore them and the consequences likely to
from 1t. manV gentlemen in the cItv Of
Jew Orleans. lifelong and tried Democrats,
determined that the most etfioacious way to
Hay its spread, to bring out the full Demo
ratio vote and to Indicate to the Democratic
'oters that there was no reason for going
ITO the Republican party, that the Demo-
ratio party had strength enough to purify
rself, was to organize a movement In favor
t the denomination OF Mir. Hunt, and thus
ut the seal of condemnation on the rulnor
t the seat in congress having been sold.
rom these motives the movement was born
took active and Jealous being.
M FIRST ratification meeting held IN the
tty o.. Nep orleans IN tacor Of the election of
n. ttere{dHd ara held by The gentlemen pho
fgdni-ed The HINT increment and Were in
onnectiOn 1cih that increment. Now, where
tss General Nichols during these events
lie did not live 10 the First district, he lived
/ the Second district. the Third congress
district was represented in congress
y MI. Kellogg; it was the sole district in
state represented by Ii Republican. An
rganized and vigorous effort was put on
Dot in that district to redeem it for the
democracy and relieveit
OF THE KELLOGG BLEMIsH
y the nomination of the Hon. Edward +.
fay. Knowing the influence which Governor
'icholls EXERCISED in shis district, he was re-
uested by Mr.. Gay to aid him in his can
ass. With that devotion to his people and
Is party which has always characterized
i'm. he lent a ready ear to the request. He
to the Third district and esnyassed
with MIR. Gay, and invoked wAereYer he
emit earnestness and enthusiasm,
Whilst he was engaged In this s,eN
~ ~ tssor1nn ~ Mas msae 20 MIN hat the
= presence In the First dissrsas%ASMms
ben to prevent many goNd as4s&
10 believed in the truth Of
have spoken from goine
ban party and nus bring ezS4x
1nnixf Tor Mr. HHnfhnstQg C9eFelal